Smart Shopping.

Make A Spectacle Of Yourself By Inspecting Quality Of Frames, Lens Material, Tints And Coatings At Optical Shops, Keep Eye Out For Credentials

July 26, 1993|By Seka Prodanovic. Special to the Tribune.

When buying eyeglasses, there's more than meets the eye. Sure, a snazzy pair of frames may turn heads, but form and function are equally important. After all, what good are great-looking specs if you can't see well out of them?

Experienced, educated opticians are essential in ensuring quality. Illinois does not require opticians to be licensed, but one way to gauge an optician's credentials is to verify certification with the American Board of Opticianry.

FOR THE RECORD - Additional material published Aug. 6, 1993:Corrections and clarifications.In the July 26 Your Money section, a story comparing eyeglass stores stated that LensCrafters requires its opticians to go through a two-week training course. The course actually lasts three months. And a table accompanying the story gave an incorrect figure for how much LensCrafters charges for adding ultraviolet protection, scratch-resistant coating and tinting to its basic lens. The real figure is $30. The Tribune regrets the errors.

LensCrafters, a national chain of about 430 stores, requires that its opticians in Illinois go through a two-week company training program. They are encouraged to be ABO certified, said Frank Baynham, vice president of company operations.

Pearle Vision requires a two-year training program for employees at its corporate-owned stores, according to spokeswoman Karen O'Neil.

Employees at Spex, a local independent chain of four optical shops, all have at least five years' experience, according to owner Bob Weiss.

Through a glass darkly

Glasses, like cars, do not necessarily get better when you add more options. Sometimes it is the quality of those options that is most important. Likewise, it is the quality that is most difficult to measure from the surface.

"It's tough for the consumer to judge the quality," said Dr. Dennis Siemsen, chairman of the Department of Clinical Education at the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago.

Consumers often are led down a blind alley in three areas: the quality of the frames, the quality of the lens material, and tints and coatings, which is why it is important to find an optician you can trust, Siemsen said.

Many optical shops will try to sell you a package that adds many options to your lenses, such as ultraviolet coating.

Siemsen noted that while ultraviolet guards are fine for sun worshipers, they are "minimally important" for most folks. Plastic and polycarbonate lenses absorb almost all the harmful UV, he said. The UV guard is more important for glass lenses, which filter out very little of the UV rays.

In the August issue of Consumer Reports magazine, which focuses on eyeglasses, only about one-fourth of the 71,000 readers surveyed still wore glass lenses. Plastic lenses, made of a resin called CR-39, are the most common material used in making lenses and cost about $60 to $75 on average. These lenses do not need scratch-resistant coating unless the glasses are expected to be handled roughly.

Polycarbonate, used in football helmets and astronaut masks, is a high-tech material for lenses. Extremely shatterproof and lightweight, polycarbonate lenses are softer than others and require an anti-scratch coating, the Consumer Reports study said. They generally cost about $20 more than plastic lenses.

Pearle Vision offers four basic packages, which include some combination of lens, ultraviolet guard, anti-scratch coat, tint and anti-reflection coating. Packages range from $109 to $153, not including frames.

America's Best optical chain offers eyeglasses at prices that may be too good to be true. They advertise two pairs of glasses for $39.99, including the eye exam. But of the 420 different frames offered at its Downers Grove store, the promotion extends to only about 35 of them, none of which comes with a warranty. Beyond that, the price for a frame and lenses begins at $69.99.

America's Best says its prices are low because the chain has a high volume, staffs far fewer opticians than most large chains and sends all the work from its 70 national stores to one lab. Although this keeps production costs low, the turnaround for glasses can be two to three weeks.

When judging the quality of the lab work, inspect the lens finish, said Siemsen. He advises you to check the edges for smoothness and opacity.

Limited warranties

Often the extent of a warranty can indicate a company's belief in its product. While most frames come with manufacturers' warranties, lenses are guaranteed by the labs who made them.

America's Best offers a 90-day warranty on frames priced $69.99 or higher and a one-year warranty on those over $89.99. Lenses are guaranteed unconditionally for one year if you purchase anti-scratch coating.

The Optical Shop, which charges $20 for one year, will replace damaged glasses at half the original price, and For Eyes will replace them at no charge, but only for the first 60 days after purchase.